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The England head coach loathed the moniker Bazball since it was coined, deeming it overly simplistic and perhaps anticipating how it might be used as a weapon in the future. Currently, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with great expectations, it has turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

However the coach has not helped himself either. Following the crushing loss at the Gabba, his claim that, if there was an issue, England were 'too prepared' prior to the pink-ball match was akin to attempting to extinguish a rubbish fire with petrol. It risks becoming his epitaph as national coach if results do not take an upturn.

On one level, you almost have to admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as McCullum claims to ignore outside criticism, he will have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as carefree and underprepared.

The truth, as always, is not so simple. England play as much golf during their scheduled breaks as their opponents and they train just as much. Before the Gabba Test, they did more, logging five days compared to Australia's three, given their limited experience to the pink Kookaburra ball and the changes in seeing conditions.

The Debate of Preparation and Practice

McCullum's point about being "excessively ready" was that those additional training days were his call – the instance he wavered in his conviction that less is more. It suggested a significant amount of mental energy was used up before they even stepped out in the intensity of Australia's stronghold. While nets are a chance to iron out skills, they can also become a comfort zone; low-pressure work that simply keeps the reflexes sharp.

Fixtures are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were not possible (with uncertain value, when you consider England having played three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the disregard of county championship cricket as a worthwhile exercise in general, as shown by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

On-Field Shortcomings and Philosophical Lack of Evolution

Only playing hardens cricketers for the various scenarios they walk out to face, and it is in this area where England have so far fallen well short. It is not only with the batting – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an bowling attack that seems without a spearhead. No bowler has shown the persistence or discipline that the exceptional Mitchell Starc and his support cast have delivered.

The coach's unconventional approach was freeing during its first 12 months, an excellent, well diagnosed remedy to eradicate the torpor that preceded it. The disappointment now stems from how it has seemingly failed to move beyond that point – an absence of an upgrade to the original software that has seen form taper off to an even record from their most recent matches.

Squad Spotlight and Selection Decisions

One such player is Jamie Smith, a talent, undoubtedly, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on each side of the bat and has dropped two crucial opportunities as wicketkeeper. The situation is not aided when your opposite number, the Australian keeper, has just produced a virtuoso performance.

Going by the coach's words after the match, England look likely to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a more familiar match environment unleashes his best, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unusual day-night format now out of the way.

Another option is to enact the plan stumbled across during the series win in New Zealand 12 months ago by moving the batsman down to his preferred position as a busy No. 5 or 6, giving him the gloves, and picking a new No 3. A young contender scored runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps an all-rounder could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, none of this is perfect, with Australia's better fundamentals having shattered expectations and forced the broader philosophy into the spotlight.